After being caught allegedly inhaling last week in New York, R&B singer Robin Thicke decided to cover Whitney Houston‘s 1995 ballad ‘Exhale (Shoop, Shoop)’ from the ‘Waiting to Exhale’ soundtrack. The song was Nippy’s 11th No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and won her a 1997 Grammy for Best R&B Song.

On Thicke’s stripped-down version, he simply croons the song’s uplifting lyrics in his whispery falsetto over soft piano keys. “For every win / I’m going to fail / But there comes a point when / When I will exhale,” he sings. Thicke concludes the song with a beautiful piano solo and stirring gospel-esque refrains of “shoop de shoop.”

If you are familiar with Whitney’s original version, the ballad is about never letting your failures impede your path in life. Thicke’s rendition gives the song a much somber tone about love and heartbreak.

“This is my tribute to the great Whitney Houston,” he told fans on his Twitter page. “Sending my prayers to her family.”

Great work, Mr. Thicke.

Listen to Robin Thicke, ‘Exhale (Shoop, Shoop)’

Popcrush » Hot Off the PressSource: PopCrush.com

More From 107-3 KISS-FM